Shri D.N. Padhi was a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University, UK during the full academic year 1991-92 and worked on "India-European Union Trade Relations". He possesses the degrees of M.Sc. (Physics) with specialization in Electronics from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack and MBA from Delhi University with major in International Trade, International Financial Management and Industrial Management.

Shri Padhi joined the IAS in 1971. Apart from holding very significant and important assignments in Orissa, he has also served under the Government of Bihar, in the Ministry of Defence, New Delhi and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution as Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, Government of India and Special Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India, New Delhi. Prior to his joining the Indian Administrative Service he served the State Bank of India as a Probationary Officer in New Delhi.

Under Government of Orissa, some of the posts held by him are: Deputy/Joint/Additional Secretary in the Department of Forests, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Director, Tourism, Culture and Sports and Information & Public Relations, Founder Managing Director of OTDC, Settlement Officer, Ganjam-­Koraput Major Settlement, Director, CD, RR and Social Welfare, Director, Harijan and Tribal Welfare, Additional Secretary, Industries, Collector and District Magistrate, Mayurbhanj District, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to His Excellency, Governor(s) of Orissa, Commissioner-cum-Secretary in the Departments of Information and Public Relations, School and Mass Education, Tourism, Culture, Sports and Youth Services, Special Relief Commissioner, Orissa and Principal Secretary in the Departments of Steel & Mines and Energy, CMD, OHPC, Chairman, OPGC and Resident Commissioner, Government of Orissa, New Delhi.

He was the Governor of Rotary International District 3260 comprising of Orissa and eastern half of Madhya Pradesh (now including Chattisgarh) during 1996-97. He has received Rotary's Highest International award of "Service Above Self" as also the coveted citation for Meritorious Service of the Rotary Foundation. Since 1997-98 he is a Member of the India National Polio Plus Committee of Rotary International and has been decorated with the prestigious Regional Service Award for Polio Free World in South East Asia from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

Shri Padhi has a keen interest in social work. His professional interests are in the area of Human Resource Development, Rights of the Children, International Trade, Industrial Marketing, International Financial Management, Strategic Business Management and Tourism Management. He is former Chairman, Institute of Directors and Council for Corporate Governance (Orissa Chapter), former Chairman of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (Orissa Branch), Director, Centre for Strategic Initiatives in Public Administration (IIPA), Orissa, Advisor to the Orissa Branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (India), Working President of the Bhubaneswar Metropolis Management Association and National President, Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisations. He also served as Honorary Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Orissa and Director, Orissa State Council for Child Welfare. He is a Life Member of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, New Delhi.